Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Perils of a Big Family

Everyone knows I have a really big family. Not only is mine big, so is my sister's. She had one less child than I did with 4, but those four have managed to produce 15 with three step kids thrown in there, and then there's the great grands which I won't even attempt to count. She hasn't caught up with me yet.

This June I received so many graduation announcements--middle school, high school, and two Masters degrees. And then there are all the birthdays--I only send birthday greetings to my own children and grandchildren now. (For those that are on Facebook, at least I can say Happy Birthday.) I'll not even mention Christmas. My sis and I quit giving each other birthday and Christmas gifts long ago when this whole family thing got out of hand.

We are called upon to help out a lot too--we've raised a grandson and granddaughter, have another adult grandson living with us. Last week, a grandson called and asked his grandpa if he could come up to the school and help with back-to-school night, cooking hamburgers. He put on his apron and took off.

Sadness and worries abound too. Then there are the illnesses and accidents. Fortunately, we're a praying family, so people can be assured of many prayers.

We have our share of drama: marriages in trouble, babies arriving without a marriage, teens in trouble, and so on. (My husband says that's why I watch the soap General Hospital, because they have more problems than our family does.)

Right now, one of my sister's granddaughters has put herself in peril. She's 19 with some disabilities, physical and mental. The girl met some older man on Facebook who lived in the big city she lives in and he came and took her to his house. Her brother figured out where and went and brought her back. The guy got her again. A girlfriend went there and took her home. She left again.

Her parents are distraught. It is taking a toll on the mother's already bad health though she manages to work every day. They've gone to the police, but because she's over 18 and they are not her legal guardians--merely her parents--she can do what she wants.

From what we've heard the man has told her that she's being cheated out of her social security money by her parents. Impossible, since she's not getting any and never has. Of course she's unhappy about other things, she thinks her parents are preventing her from going to college and getting a job. Maybe they are, I don't know. Maybe they've been overprotective. She finished high school, but got a special ed. diploma. I'm not around her all that much, but almost every time I have been, she's had a recent seizure or has had one at whatever event we're attending including last year's family reunion.

Of course this young woman is in peril--she has no idea.

Not sure where I'm going with this, I think I just needed to get it out in the open.

On the plus side, I love my family--all of them. Most of the time, things move along well and I get to hear about their accomplishments, the sports the grandkids are excelling in, the dancing competitions, how much they love school, and on and on.

I love Hap's comment that you watch "General Hospital" because they have more troubles than you! Too funny (although I have a feeling that's why a lot of folks watch soaps!). I sincerely hope everything works out with your sister's granddaughter, Marilyn.